Vertical casket



June 15, 1965 E. E. BAUERMEISTER 3,188,712

VERTICAL CASKET Filed July 27, 1962 INVEN TOR.

ERNEST E. BAUERMEISTER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,188,712 VERTICAL CASKET Ernest E. Bauermeister, 4307 Paulding Road, Fort Wayne, Ind. Filed July 27, 1962, Ser. No. 212,790 1 Claim. (Cl. 276) This invention relates to a casket, and more particularly it relates to a casket which is adapted for vertical burial. Due to the expanding population in certain cities of the United States, burial space has become a premium. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a casket which is cylindrical in shape and adapted to be disposed in the ground in a vertical position. Thus, approximately five (5) caskets using the vertical design can be placed in the space required for one conventional casket.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cylindrical casket made of aluminum which is light in weight,

.germ and rust proof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a cylindrical casket which requires no vault and is adapted to be hermetically sealed to exclude air and moisture.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a vertical casket which can be lowered into the ground in a space that could be drilled by a machine, thus eliminating any back fill, and further will prevent settling of the ground.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a cylindrical aluminum casket having one end provided position.

With the foregoing objects in view, together with such other objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical elevational view of a vertical casket with parts removed to illustrate the vertical support therein;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 I in FIGURE 1.

Referring to the drawing, particularly FIGURE 1, the reference numeral 11 designates the vertical casket, preferably constructed of aluminum, having removable handles 13. The details of the removable handles are not illustrated for the reason that they are conventional type handles.

One end of the casing or body 15 forming the casket is provided with a curved surface 17 tapering evenly to an apex 19. A ring 21 is attached to the casing by means of a member 23.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, the numeral 25 designates a vertical perforated support for the remains. An adjustable belt or strap 29, having a buckle 31, is secured or fastened to the vertical support 25 by passing the belt through two of the perforations 27 in the vertical support 25.

The casing 15 is provided with an elongated opening 33 for the insertion and viewing of the remains. A cover 35 is adapted to close the opening. Before inserting the casket into the ground the cover 35 is closed ice and a conventional aluminum weld permanently seals the casing so that the casket is hermetically sealed to prevent air and moisture from entering into the interior.

In view of the fact that the casket is made of aluminum it can be provided in any color desired. A burial vault is not required for the vertical casket due to the fact that it is made of aluminum.

A conventional lining of satin, not shown, may be placed on the interior of the casing.

Use

When the casket is in use the remains are placed on the vertical support 25 and the strap 29 surrounds the body. The casket may be placed on a conventional dolly in the funeral home so that the remains may be viewed in a horizontal position. When the casket is to be taken to the cemetery the cover 35 is welded to the casing 15 and a conventional drilling machine may be utilized to drill a hole substantially the diameter of the casket. The handles are removed and the casket can then be lowered into the hole by means of the ring 21, utilizing a conventional crane.

In view of the fact the diameter of the hole is only slightly larger than the diameter of the casket, little or no back filling is required, therefore, the settling of the earth in the opening is substantially eliminated. However, a slight back fill is required to compensate for the curved portion 17. In the event it is desired to exhume the remains a hole is dug until the ring 21 is reached and a crane can remove the casket whereby the curved portion 17 will serve as a means for separating the earth.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the form, structure and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, applicant does not desire to be limited to the specific embodiment disclosed herein primarily for purposes of illustration; but instead, he desires protection falling fairly within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A casket adapted for vertical burial comprising, in combination:

(a) a cylindrical aluminum casing having one end provided with a curved surface tapering evenly to an apex,

(b) a ring mounted at the apex of the casing for raising and lowering said easing into an opening in the ground,

(c) said casing having an elongated opening for the insertion and viewing of the remains,

(d) said casing having removable handles on opposite sides of the casing,

(e) a cover hermetically sealing the elongated open- (f) a flat vertical support for the remains disposed longitudinally within the casing and spaced off center with respect to the axis of said casing, and

(g) an adjustable strap adapted to surround the remains and secured to the fiat vertical support to maintain the remains in a vertical position within the casing when the casing is disposed into an opening in the ground.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 212,273 2/ 79 Shannon 27l 911,027 2/09 Bratton.

1,507,726 9/24 Brady 276 2,541,371 2/51 Kops 2205 FOREIGN PATENTS 36,631 3/86 Germany.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primay Examiner. 

